I came across a musictought.com today and I thought that this was an interesting list of songs. There are some many that we can be fond of and want to rockout in our cars or the shower. I’ll have to say that Queen is really winning this contest for list share. Looking at it again, it seems that this is just a random list. I guess we can do what Jack Nicholson’s charater, Melvin Udall, in “As Good as it gets” when things get a little heated for him in the car. We can make a playlist entitled, “In case of emergency.” 

Here’s Link to the Article: 10 Songs That Will Drive You Nuts When They Get Stuck in Your Head

•  
  • The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens
  • Bicycle Race by Queen
  • We Will Rock You by Queen
  • Downtown by Petula Clark
  • Don’t Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
  • Another Brick in the Wall (Part+2) by Pink Floyd
  • Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
  • Lights by Journey
  • We Are The Champions by Queen

I was looking through some of the photos from Steel and realized that I didn’t put one down for the dessert. This is chocolate and chocolate sauce and well…I don’t remember what it was……but let me tell you it was some mighty fine eaten…….(how do you like the “S” for Steel…nice touch I know)

Anton Ego

Not too long ago I had the chance to watch Ratatouille after a day at the pool. I thought that this was going to be just another movie to fall asleep to but that was not the case. In every meaningful movie there is a scene that really hits home with the audience. That scene for me was towards the end when Anton Ego (a mean spirited food-critic) takes his first bite of Ratatouille. Like most things, nothing makes sense unless you have context.

The dish ratatouille, as explained in the movie, is a common everyday dish for everyday people. In short, there is nothing special or even significant about this dish. In fact, it is not even fit for a restaurant that prides itself or desires a 5 star rating. 

Ego takes a bite into his ratatouille . . . well I’ll let you read straight from the script

Complete pdf of Ratatouille Movie Script

As Ego’s lips close around the ratatouille, the sound, the

restaurant around him is WHISKED AWAY–

FLASHBACK: FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE - A LIFETIME AGO

We are inside a cozy cottage on a golden summer day. The

front door is open, a newly crashed BICYCLE lays on the

ground outside. Next to it stands a five year old ANTON EGO

with a skinned knee, valiantly holding back tears.

His young mother turns from her cooking, and gives him a

sympathetic smile. Like all mothers, she knows what to do.

MOMENTS LATER

Young EGO, already feeling better, is at a table. His mother

touches his cheek and sets a freshly made bowl of ratatouille

before him, warm and inviting. The boy takes a spoonful into

his mouth–

Ego is brought back to one of his potent experiences as a child, the experience of his unconditional love and love for love’s sake from his mother. We can remember more about a certain experience by scent and touch than we can through any or our senses. Think about the sensory experience he had:

The Negatives:

·     Taking the risk of riding a bike even though he may fall

·     A new bike destroyed (disappointment and failure by his own hand),

·     A skinned knee (pain from his own actions),

·     the hesitation of facing parents who most likely purchased the bike (possible disappointment from others)

·     the attempt to be strong and not let anyone see him cry (no boy wants to be seen as a wimp)

·     the need of reassurance that everything was going to be okay with his relationship with his mother

·     assurance that the relationship with himself was not lost such that he would never attempt to risk again

The Positives:

·     His mother makes ratatouille specifically for him (he is valuable)

·     His mother touches him on the cheek letting him know that everything that he was worried about was going to be okay.

The experience that he remembered is the satisfaction and assurance of his greatest need at that time, his need: the need for someone to love him. His mother did not dress his knee or even acknowledge that he had a “boo-boo” but served him a good helping of love, reassurance, and just a pinch of seasoned salt of relationship preservation.  

I think that is something that we can learn to apply.

Yesterday I had lunch with Paul Broft some of the crew from SneakySunday.com at Steel in The Plaza Midtown. Steel has a "contemporary atmosphere featuring Indochina cuisine." Let me tell you that this place is pretty awesome. I’m typically not a sushi eater but I will have to tell you that I am sold on it. Well, at least at Steel. They do offer some private dining so I’d say make a reservation for your dress rehearsal dinner. You won’t be sorry that you did.

The Service:

I cannot say enough about their service. I’ll sum it up this way. ANYTIME MY NAPKIN GOT A LITTLE TOO WET AND DIRTY (THE ONE UNDER MY GLASS) THEY GAVE ME A NEW ONE . That’s all i need to know. They are top notch servers and they certainly take care of you. I was really impressed by it all. What makes this place so different is their attention to detail which includes: filling your glass, napkins, decor, and hospitality.

ALL ABOUT CHUCK :

Chuck Kneeland (owner) was around to make sure that everything is perfect. I’m not talking about a perfunctory, "how is everything." He wanted to see how everything was going. Steel is about the experience and the food rather than a place to eat and go like you would at a chain restaurant.

Here are some of the photos I took with the iphone.

Those thread looking things in the background is actual water streaming from the ceiling

Artwork behind the bar

We got the "home style" meals. Steak, Chicken, and Sea Bass

Plate aesthetics

I downloaded the audio book, “Chasing Cool” last year because it had an interesting title. Sometimes those types of purchases will haunt you because they weren’t what you thought that they would be. In short, not authentic. No matter what your age demographic we tend to find that next “big” thing that will make our life better or help communicate to the world who “I” really am. The thesis of the book is that, Cool will always be related to that which is authentic. Nobody wants to buy into a fake. Nobody wants to be friends, enter into relationships, or even be a fake. We want to embrace the authentic “me” and have relationships with those that share the same authenticity.
Authenticity is, “something that is reliable, consistent, trustworthy, and true to its core or essence.” We want Authentic relationships because we want to give our hearts to those who mean what they say and say what they mean. Authenticity is also related to timelessness. Only that which is true is timeless. True love based on commitment, sacrifice, selflessness, nurturing behaviors, and faithfulness (just to name a few) will by default be timeless.
I just photographed a wedding where an attending couple made the spotlight because they were married the longest. 57 YEARS!!!! Who wouldn’t say that that relationship was authentic and who wouldn’t say that a couple who kiss in public after 57 years wasn’t cool?

What do you think . . .